Panel supporting arrangement



J. R. BROOKS Aug. 8, i967 PANEL SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 6, 1964 Fig.!

A INVENTOR 28 Jackson R. Brooks ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1967 Filed Feb. 6, 1964 J. R. BROOKS PANEL SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 III. I.II I. all. III. I: Jrn' vii/AX II II III Fig. 6

INVENTOR. Jackson R. Brooks ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,334,462PANEL SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT Jackson R. Brooks, Fort Collins, Col0.,assignor to Excellart Extrusion Company, Fort Collins, Colo., apartnership Filed Feb. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 342,906 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-460)This invention relates to decorative wall panels and more particularlyto the structural members for holding panel sheets in place, a primaryobject of the invention being to provide a novel and improved system ofstructural components for supporting panel sheets and for ef fectivelycovering the abutting edges of adjacent panels with mullions and likedecorative strips.

The architectural treatment of wall paneling is extensive and variedwith installations ranging from systems which merely abut the edges offlat panels, with substantially flush joints to merge the individualpanels into a flat wall, to more elaborate systems where individualpanels are separated by vertical and horizontal dividers such as stripsand mullions, which will usually cover the edges of adjacent panels andmay actually support the panel members. The present invention isconcerned with the latter type of decorative panel where the individualpanel sheets are separated by horizontal dividers and vertical mullions.

In the past much paneling included relief of intricate carvings andsculpturing of various patterns and designs; however, with the presentday labor problems such paneling and carving is entirely too expensivefor the average user and a trend has been to use flat sheet typepaneling such as plywood and hardboard or even glass to cover a wall orthe like. Where decoration is desired, such paneling may includepictures.

An innocation has been brought about by the better availability of largesheets of synthetic resin materials such as acrylates, and thesematerials have been suggested as suitable for decorative panelingpurposes. One intriguing feature of such resin sheets lies in the factthat they are thermoplastic, and they may be easily vacuum drawn to formrelief in three dimentional patterns of practically any shape desired.This provides a high-quality, artistic treatment of panels and atsurprising low cost where groups of identical panels are desired on agiven wall.

Despite such advantages and the further advantage that the resin panelsmay effectively respond to lighting effects since they may be eithertransparent, translucent, or opaque, a serious deficiency in theproperties of practically every thermoplastic resin material exists.This lies in the fact that such materials are not always dimensionallystable. Not only is there a high :degree of shrinkage and expansionbecause of effects of temperature, but also considerable shrinkage orexpansion of resin sheets can occur with variations in the humidity ofthe air. Even the effects of sunlight and of aging can cause changes inthe proportions of a panel. All of such changes of dimension preventthese panels from being set in conventional manner.

The present invention was conceived and developed with the above factorsin View and also to provide a system of supporting sheet paneling of anysort. Also the invention was developed to meet a need for the effectiveapplication of decorative mullions and like structural members to beused in finishing off a sheet panel installation.

It follows that another object of the invention is to provide a noveland improved system of supporting and holding panel sheets whichincludes an improved and simplified anchoring means adapted to receiveand to hold the edges of any type of sheet paneling including panelingwhich changes considerably dimensionally, such as synthetic resins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsystem of decorative paneling where a simplified holding and anchoringmeans will retain the individual panel sheets in place and will alsoreceive decorative mullions and like members by the simple expedient ofsnapping-on the member strips and thereby to provide a finishedappearance to the paneling arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsystem for holding panels, wherein the structural components are formedin a simplified manner by the use of extruded aluminum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsystem of supporting panels which is versatile in application andprovides components which may be easily interchanged, varied or modifiedin a number of various ways.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved systemfor supporting decorative paneling which is a low-cost,easily-installed, neat-appearing, rugged and durable arrangement.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fullyhereafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions,combinations and arrange ments of parts as hereinafter described,defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodimentin the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a group of panels mounted upon a wallwithin horizontal divider strips and mullions, such being illustrativeof one type of construction using snap-on mullions which are formedaccording to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the panelingillustrated at FIG. 1, as taken from the indicated line 2-2 at FIG. 1,but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of the panel wallillustrated at FIG. 1, as taken from the indicated line 3-3 at FIG. 1,but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a fragment of the showing at FIG. 3, but on a furtherenlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a fragment of the showing at FIG. 2, but on a furtherenlarged scale.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric fragmentary sectional view showing a corner ofa panel and portions of the several frame members which support and holdthe panel, all as viewed from the indicated arrow 6 at FIG. 1, but on anenlarged scale.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view of an improved panel holdinganchor strip.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view of the improved snap-on mullionwhich is adapted to be afiixed to an anchor strip formed in the mannerillustrated at FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse, sectional view of a decorative filler stripwhich is adapted to be carried in an anchor strip such as thatillustrated at FIG. 7.

FIGURE 10 is a transverse, sectional view of one type of edging adaptedto hold the edge sections of a panel in place where the anchor stripillustrated at FIG. 7 is not to be used.

FIGURE 11 is a transverse, section-a1 view of a modified form of snap-onmullion.

FIGURE 12 is a transverse, sectional view of another modified form of asnap-on type of mullion.

FIGURE 13 is a small scale view of a fragment of a panel systemillustrative of the use of members such as that illustrated at FIGS. 8and 11 to serve as mullions and also horizontal sills.

FIGURE 14 is a small scale view of a fragment of a diamond-shaped panelsystem illustrative of the use of members such as that illustrated atFIGS. 8 and 11 to serve as inclined dividers between the diamond-shapedpanels. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the framing and holdingmembers constituting the invention are adapted to secure various typesof panels formed of sheet material and these members are especiallyadapted for panel sheets of thermoplastic resin, of the type which maybe easily vacuum drawn to produce a three dimensional relief on the faceof the panel. The arrangement of panels shown at FIG. 1 illustrates asimple type of relief in the individual panels as will be hereinafterdescribed. This arrangement of panels is one of many different types ofarrangement possible but the framing and holding members constitutingthe invention can be used in other arrangements.

For a decorative paneling arrangement of the general type shown at FIG.1, a wall section 10 may be formed with a recess 11 with decorativepanels 12 being mounted as against the inset wall surface 13 of therecess. These panels 12 are arranged in any suitable array such as inrows and columns as illustrated, and the individual panels are separatedby horizontal dividers 14 and vertical mullions 15 which constitute theholding and framing members.

Each panel 12 is formed as a flat sheet which may be a thermoplasticresin sheet drawn to provide a three dimensional decorative relief suchas the simple pattern 16 illustrated, or a more complex pattern ifdesired.

The improved holding and framing members which include horizontaldividers and the improved snap-on mullions include flat, H-shaped anchorstrips and edging strips as will be hereinafter described. To hold thesestrips in place, the inset wall 13 may be prepared by securing a networkof horizontal and vertical furring strips 17 and 18 respectively againstthe inset wall at spacings which correspond to the panel edges toproperly position the anchor strips. However, this preparation may bevaried considerably. If the inset wall 13 is sufiiciently flat, thefurring strips may be eliminated. On the other hand if the recess is aWindow-like opening to be closed by the panels, the furring strips willhave to be replaced with heavier structural members which are capable offully supporting the panels and holding members.

The primary components of the panel framework to receive and hold edgesof the panels 12 and to support other decorative members consist ofanchor strips 20. These strips are elongated members which are uniformin cross section, and are thus best described with reference to theircross section form. In form, the general appearance is like a flattenedH. One side of this H-shaped strip constitutes a flat, comparativelywide base 21 which lies against a furring strip when in place. The crosslink of the H shape is a comparatively short, thick neck, 22 whichupstands from the center of the flat base. The other side of the H isformed as a flat, top 23 which is likewise centered upon the neck andwhich lies in spaced parallelism with the base. It follows that thespaces between the base and top constitute pockets 24 at each side ofthe neck which are adapted to receive the edges of a panel 12.

These pockets 24 are comparatively narrow and deep when viewed insection as at FIGS. 4, 5, and 7. Accordingly, the pockets will easilyhold panel sections with a substantial degree of clearance or looseness,as indicated at 24a at FIGS. 4 and 5, to thereby permit considerableshrinkage or expansion of the panels within the pockets 24. This featureis essential where synthetic resin sheets are used because of the highdegree of shrinkage and expansion of the sheet with changes oftemperature and humidity.

Each anchor strip is adapted to be mounted with the base 21 lyingagainst either a horizontal or a vertical furring strip, and it may besecured thereto by nails 25 extending through suitable holes 26, drilledin the neck portion of the strip, as in the manner clearly illustratedat FIG. 6. To facilitate proper centering of the nail holes, a shallownail guide 27 may be formed at the center of the top 23.

To complete this strip and to permit it to hold other components, eachedge of the top 23 is turned upwardly, as away from the base 21, to forma flange 28, upstanding from the surface of the arms 23. Each flange 28lies in spaced parallelism with the other, and its top edge is formed asan inwardly directed hook 29, so that the hook at one flange is inspaced opposition with the hook of the other flange, and these hooks mayeffectively secure decorative members between them, as will now bedescribed.

The horizontal dividers 14 are formed primarily of anchor strips 20which are partially covered by a decorative slat 30. This slat 30 may beformed to any shape and a simple rectangular cross section, asillustrated at FIG. 9 is one preferred type. The width of this slat 30is such that it may lie against the top 23 of the anchor strip with itsedges being snugly embraced by the flanges 28 and held in position bythe hooks 29, as in the manner clearly illustrated at FIG. 4.

The decorative snap-on mullions 15 are formed as elongated members,uniform in cross section and, thus, may be described with reference totheir cross sectional form. Each mullion is a thin-walled, U-shapedmember which may be rectangular as illustrated at FIGS. 8 and 11 or itmay be otherwise formed as illustrated at FIG. 12. Referring to the FIG.8 construction, the crotch of the U- shaped section forms the front face31 of the mullion with legs of the U forming the side members 32. Theseside members are flat and lie in mutual spaced parallelism.

This mullion is adapted to be fitted over an anchor strip 20 as in themanner clearly illustrated at FIGS. 5 and 6. It is so proportioned as topermit the opening at the edges of each side 32 to loosely overlie theflanges 28 of the anchor strip 20. For connection to the flanges, adetent 33 extends from the inner surface of each side 32 at a point nearthe side edge, and this detent extends inwardly from the side 32 andtowards the side edge to terminate as a hook 34 which faces the innerwall of its side 32 substantially in spaced parallelism therewith. Thespacing of the hooks 34 on the detents 33 is such as to permit them toengage with the hooks 29 on the anchor strip flanges 28. This engagementis in an overlapping manner with the slope 35 of the detent adjacent tothe hook 34 being the same as the slope 35' on the head of the hook 29to assure a tight interengagement of the surfaces when the hooks areinterlocked as in the manner illustrated best at FIG. 5.

Since the detents are proportioned so that the hooks 34 will tightlyengage the hooks 29 on the anchor strip flanges when a mullion isaflixed to an anchor strip, it is necessary for the sides 32 of themullion to be sprung inwardly so that the respective hooks will bypasseach other to locking position. The springing of the sides to effectlocking will not require a severe elastic distortion of the mullion, andthe required pressure at any point will not be great. However, thelocking action of the hooks is such that the entire length of themullion sides must be flexed to loosen it and the total force requiredto do this is tremendous. Once set, these mullions will fit so tightlythat they cannot be removed without special equipment. It is to be notedthat the edge of each mullion side 32 lies at the edge of the pocket 24when the mullion is locked into place on the anchor strip. Thus, it Willabut against the face of a panel installed into the pocket 24 of theanchor strip, and when the mullion is mounted on an anchor strip 20having panel edges therein, a finished unit is produced having only thisone edge-contacting-seam be ing visible.

The anchor strip 20 and the mullions are preferably formed of extrudedaluminum or like metal so that the several members will be preciselyuniform in cross section and will fit perfectly regardless of thearrangement in which the components are placed together. This alsopermits the formation of a high quality system at an amazingly low cost.

The assembly of a panel group such as that illustrated at FIG. '1 mustnecessarily commence at one corner of the panel system and proceedtherefrom in an orderly fashion, as Will be described. However, as in apanel group as illustrated at FIG. 1, the edging of the wall recess 11will not necessarily require the anchor strips 20, and conventionaltypes of edging may be used to start the paneling system. Arepresentative type of an edge strip 26 is shown at FIG. 10, which ispreferably also formed of extruded aluminum to a pattern similar to thatof the other members. This edging strip 36 may be in the general form ofa U having a back surface 27 adapted to lie against a wall furringstrip, a comparatively heavy crotch portion 38, and a top surface 39 ofa simple, flat pattern as illustrated or of a decorative shape ifdesired. The edge of a panel will fit into the pocket 40 between theback and top surfaces of the unit and to properly allow for expansionand contraction of the panels, This pocket 40 is comparatively deep.

In the panel assembly, it is desirable to complete columns of panels,first by commencing at a corner of the Wall recess 11, for example thelower lefthand corner at FIG. 1. Edging strips 36 are first set aboutthe opening. The first panel 12 is then set in the lower lefthandcorner. An anchor strip forming a horizontal divider 14 is then mountedon the furring strip 17 at the top of this panel to hold the top edge ofthe panel, with care being taken to provide adequate pocket clearance24a therein. The panel thereabove is placed in this anchor strip 20 anda second anchor strip forming a horizontal divider is then secured in.place above the second panel. The third and top panel is next slid intoposition in the pocket 24 of the anchor strip and the pocket 40 of theedge strip 36 at the top of the opening 11. Next, the decorative fillerstrips 30 are slid into position to complete the first column of panelsand horizontal dividers. It is to be noted that with each setting, asuitable pocket clearance 24a is maintained for each panel.

The next step is to set a vertical anchor strip 20 for subsequentconnection of a mullion thereto. It is to be noted that the width of thebase 21 of each anchor strip is greater than the width of the top 23 andis such that when a mullion is afiixed to the anchor strip, the edges ofthe base 21 are aligned with the surfaces of the sides 32 of themullion. This proportioning permits a vertical anchor strip base edge 21to abut against square'cut ends of the horizontal dividers at each sidethereof to assure a tight fit of the ends of the horizontal dividers, orother members, against the sides of the mullion. This eliminates theneed of making careful measurements and cuts at the end of eachhorizontal divider. A further advantage to this mode of constructionlies in the fact that, at the same time, the sides of the mullion mustbe pressed inwardly and together when being set. This permits all othercomponents to be finally installed and positioned before the mullionsare set in place.

After setting the vertical anchor strip against the horizontal dividers,the second column of panels and horizontal dividers is installed ashereinbefore described. Another vertical anchor strip is then set inposition and the operation repeated until all panel columns areinstalled. Some problems of fitting may occur at the final panel columnsection following the procedure outlined. Each installation will differin detail, and the fitting problems can be best resolved at the time ofactual installation. The final step is the snapping of the mullions inplace.

It is to be understood that the above installation is illustrative only,and other systems for setting panels can be used with the improvedcomponents. Such will include panels of full height, eliminating thehorizontal dividers completely and using vertical anchor strips to setthe mullions in place. As a variation thereof, horizontal panels ofconsiderable length may be used with the mullion members constitutingsills.

In the structure as illustrated at FIG. 13, the mullion members arefastened to the anchor strips, both in a vertical manner as at 15 and ina horizontal manner as at 15a. The construction at FIG. 14 is a furthervariation in that the anchor strips and mullion members 151: and 15y areused to show that the arrangements can form diamond-shaped panels.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail and it isobvious that others can build and devise alternate and equivalentconstructions which are within the spirit and scope of my invention.Hence, I desire that my protection be limited, not by the constructionsillustrated and described, but only by the proper scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. The combination of an anchor strip, to be secured to back-upstructure, for adjacent panel sections of a panelling system with adecorative cover member comprising an elongated distorted H-shapedmember of uniform cross section throughout having one of its sidesplanar and constituting a base element adapted to cooperate with asurface of a back-up structure, said base element including meanstherein through which an attaching means may extend for securing saidbase element to a back-up structure; a neck element coextensive withsaid base element extending centrally thereof and lying in a planeperpendicular to the plane of the base element; a top elementcoextensive with said base element, centered with respect to, andsupported by said neck element so as to lie in spaced parallel relationto said base element; whereby the spaces formed between the base elementand the top element form pockets adapted to receive panel edges; aflange coextensive with each longitudinal edge of said top element,extending substantially perpendicularly to said top element and in adirection away from said base element; the unattached end of each ofsaid flanges being provided with an inwardly directed hook; a decorativemember having a pair of side members collapsible toward each other andnormally spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between saidflanges; and hook engaging means carried by the inner surface of saidside members forming a snug fit with said hooks when said side membersare distended and disengageable from said hooks when said side membersare collapsed toward each other.

2. The organization defined in claim. 1, wherein said decorative memberis rectangular in shape.

3. The organization defined in claim 1, wherein said decorative memberincludes a central portion to which said side members are flexiblyattached.

4. The organization defined in claim 1, wherein said hook engaging meanscomprises a detent provided with a hook.

5'. The organization defined in claim 1, wherein said decorative memberincludes a central portion to which said side members are flexiblyattached and said hook engaging means comprises a detent provided with ahook.

6. An anchor strip, to be secured to a back-up structure, for adjacentpanel sections of a panelling system comprising an elongated distortedH-shaped member of uniform cross section throughout having one of itssides planar and constituting a base element. adapted to cooperate witha surface of a back-up structure, a neck element coextensive with saidbase element extending centrally thereof and lying in a .planeperpendicular to the plane of the base element, a top elementcoextensive with said base element, centered with respect to, andsupported by said neck element so as to lie in spaced parallel relationto said base element; whereby the spaces formed between the base elementand the top element form pockets adapted to receive panel edges; aflange coextensive with each longitudinal edge of said top element,extending substantially perpendicularly to said top element and in adirection away from said base element; the unattached end of each ofsaid flanges being provided with an inwardly directed hook; said topelement having a longitudinal groove located at the center thereof,which lies directly over the neck to facilitate the drilling of holesand the driving of nails through the top, neck and base elements forfitting the said anchor strip to a backup surface or the like.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 3/1937 Davis 52105 X 7/1957Toney 52-469 X 5/1959 Grossrnan 52-456 X 10/1961 Grunwald 52-717 X6/1962 Dunn 2092 X 9/1962 Miller 52-477 1/1963 Gall 52r461 X 9/1963Burton 49--61 X 2/1964 Cobb et a1. 189-75 X FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1953Australia. 10/1958 France.

6/ 1958 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

6. AN ANCHOR STRIP, TO BE SECURED TO A BACK-UP STRUCTURE, FOR ADJACENTPANEL SECTIONS OF A PANELLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ELONGATED DISTORTEDH-SHAPED MEMBER OF UNIFORM CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT HAVING ONE OF ITSSIDES PLANAR AND CONSTITUTING A BASE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH ASURFACE OF A BACK-UP STRUCTURE, A NECK ELEMENT COEXTENSIVE WITH SAIDBASE ELEMENT EXTENDING CENTRALLY THEREOF AND LYING IN A PLANEPERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE BASE ELEMENT, A TOP ELEMENTCOEXTENSIVE WITH SAID BASE ELEMENT, CENTERED WITH RESPECT TO, ANDSUPPORTED BY SAID NECK ELEMENT SO AS TO LIE IN SPACES PARALLEL RELATIONTO SAID BASE ELEMENT, WHEREBY THE SPACES FORMED BETWEEN THE BASE ELEMENTAND THE TOP ELEMENT FORM POCKETS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE PANEL EDGES; AFLANGE COEXTENSIVE WITH EACH LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID TOP ELEMENT,EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID TOP ELEMENT AND IN ADIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID BASE ELEMENT; THE UNATTACHED END OF EACH OFSAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INWARDLY DIRECTED HOOK; SAID TOPELEMENT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE LOCATED AT THE CENTER THEREOF,WHICH LIES DIRECTLY OVER THE NECK TO FACILITATE THE DRILLING OF HOLESAND THE DRIVING OF NAILS THROUGH THE TOP, NECK AND BASE ELEMENTS FORFITTING THE SAID ANCHOR STRIP TO A BACKUP SURFACE OR THE LIKE.